Buying Guide: Find the right watch, timer or recorder

Choosing an appropriate reminder or alarm can be a daunting task.  So many choices and possibilities exist.  Let's simplify the process.

What's needed?

Start by figuring out what is most important to you in an alarm.  This "must have" feature will focus your search on appropriate products.  

Here are some features you might consider critical.  Click on a feature to learn more about it.

Simple operation

Silent vibration alert

Programmable with messages

Many alarms/reminders

Time management/self-monitoring mode

Simple operation

Do detailed instructions cause your blood pressure to spike?  Do you despise complicated gadgets?  Would you rather just "do without" than fumble around figuring out how something works?  When you forget how to operate something, are you likely to just retire it? 

If you answered yes to several of these questions, you'll do better with a straightforward, intuitively-obvious reminder system.  Possibilities in the easy-to-use category include:

E-Z Use Multi-Alarm

Keychain Recorder (memo only, no alarm)

Silent vibration alert

Do you require frequent reminders?  Do you work in a public place where the buzzing of an alarm might annoy or distract people?  Would you rather keep your reminders private?  Might you fail to notice a beeping alarm, either because of background noise or hearing difficulties?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you're a good candidate for a silent vibration alarm.  These come in either wristwatch or pocket versions, and with vibration as the sole alert or an option.  Consider these possibilites:

VibraLite3, VibraLite8, MeDos

Multi-Function "Invisible" Clock Timer

Programmable with messages

Does the beep of the alarm leave you wondering why?  Are you awash in deadlines and responsibilities?  Do you struggle with a complex medication regimen?  Does your memory sometimes fail you?  Is your house festooned with Post-It note memos?

If so, here are some reminder systems that can get or keep you on track: 

Cadex Reminder ID & Watch

VoiceCue

Many daily alarms/reminders

Do you need to take medications often - and precisely on time?  Could you use help sticking to a schedule?  Do commitments threaten to overwhelm you?  Do you have a house full of timers, with none to spare? 

These timepieces can handle the load, offering numerous reminders each day:

Cadex

Invisible Clock

E-Z Use Multi-Alarm

Time management / self-monitoring mode

Do you have trouble staying focused (ADD, ADHD, or just frazzled)?  Do you need a reminder at set intervals throughout the day?  Like help reinforcing a positive habit, or eliminating a negative one?

Here are some timepieces that offer automatically repeating timers, in addition to regular alarms.  You simply select the interval for the alert.

VibraLite3, VibraLite8, MeDos

Multi-Function "Invisible" Clock

What's desirable?

At this point, your decision may already be made.  One particular watch or timer may do exactly what you want.  If so, great - mission accomplished!

If not, though, take your short list of candidates and move on...

Now that you know which timepieces do what you require, consider what else is important (optional characteristics).  Go through the above list again, this time looking at other features you find desirable.  If you want, you can even prioritize these qualities according to their relative importance to you.

Is there a product from your "must have" category that also appears in these "would be nice" categories?  If so, it's worth a close look.  

What else matters? 

Still undecided?  If you're not yet sure what you want, consider:

 And the winner is...

By now you probably know what you want and why.  If uncertainty remains, though, just pick up the phone and give us a call (913-390-0247).  We're good listeners and happy to answer questions.  When prodded, we've even been known to (gulp!) offer advice.